End results showed that obese white women had a 46-percent higher chance of dying of breast cancer than their normal-weight white peers and the increased risk remained after taking other diseases and education into account. But there was no such link for blacks. Gapstur said these results would need to be replicated by additional studies in other groups. ???It was surprising that this study shows a positive relationship between obesity and breast cancer mortality in white women and not in black women??¦It raises important questions about other possible reasons.???

Researchers believe differences in tumor biology as well as health care access could be at play. Last year, for instance, one study found that black and Hispanic women wait longer to get drug treatment after breast cancer surgery than whites. Previous research has also found that black women are more likely to be diagnosed with breast cancers at later stages than white women. Gapstur added, ???We don't yet have a clear picture??¦ [But] It is always important to maintain a healthy weight, for a variety of reasons.???